700 Club

The Cecil-Harford 700 Club presented its final tournament of the season at Forest Hill Lanes on Sunday, April 9. The 2nd Chance Tournament consisted of five qualifying games and a stepladder final.Steve Tarbert of Bel Air came close to winning his second 700 Club Tournament title in two months but ran into a red-hot Steve Finley of Havre de Grace.Tarbert had teamed with Michele Bucey to claim the title in the February Mixed Doubles event at Bel Air Bowl. In the singles at Forest Hill he qualified first after the five qualifying games; he averaged 233 for the five games.

It was a normal night at Philadelphia's 700 Club until DJ Low Budget whipped out a set of frantic, banging Baltimore club music. Out on the floor, most of the crowd was overwhelmed. Charm City native Naeem Juwan went nuts. "I completely flipped out," Juwan said. "I was on the floor dancing real hard. I was one of the only people in the spot that was dancing real hard. You have that nostalgic moment where the stuff that you grew up with never really leaves you. You still hold it close to your heart, regardless of where you decide to go."

Roger Barnes of Edgewood won't be 21 until June, but he's already posted tenpin scores that bowlers double his agehaven't attained.The Edgewood High School graduate began his tenpin career when he was 3."If I could find someone to sponsor me I'd be on tour in a minute," Barnes said. "I think I'm ready."He's averaging 206 in the Sunday Gutterbusters, 208 in the Thursday Major Men's at Fair Lanes Edgewood and 209 at Brunswick Crown lanes in Middle River in the Friday Industrial league.He's shot two 800 sets and recently added a seventh perfect game to his string of 300s.

By Arthur Hirsch and Arthur Hirsch,SUN NATIONAL STAFF | August 25, 2005

The Rev. Pat Robertson seemed to delight years ago in waving before his television flock an American Civil Liberties Union letter showing his photograph alongside two other prominent Christian conservatives under the headline: "The Most Dangerous Men in America?" His significance as menace or inspiration is less clear now than it was then, due not least to Robertson's success making Christian conservatism a force in mainstream national politics. Many scholars who have written on Christian conservatism say the 75-year-old evangelist is well past his peak of influence.

The Cecil-Harford 700 Club opened its ninth season of competitive bowling last weekend at Fair Lanes Edgewood.On Oct. 11, the 700 Club had four games of qualifying with stepladder finals. Approximately half of the 70-plus membership competed for the $250 top prize.Mike Schuster of Edgewood threw a 194 game to top Gene Sines' 189 for the title. "Those 194-189 games were the lowest scores of the finals," said Chuck Dippenworth, tournament director. The 194 was the lowest game that Schuster posted in the tournament.

It was a normal night at Philadelphia's 700 Club until DJ Low Budget whipped out a set of frantic, banging Baltimore club music. Out on the floor, most of the crowd was overwhelmed. Charm City native Naeem Juwan went nuts. "I completely flipped out," Juwan said. "I was on the floor dancing real hard. I was one of the only people in the spot that was dancing real hard. You have that nostalgic moment where the stuff that you grew up with never really leaves you. You still hold it close to your heart, regardless of where you decide to go."

By Arthur Hirsch and Arthur Hirsch,SUN NATIONAL STAFF | August 25, 2005

The Rev. Pat Robertson seemed to delight years ago in waving before his television flock an American Civil Liberties Union letter showing his photograph alongside two other prominent Christian conservatives under the headline: "The Most Dangerous Men in America?" His significance as menace or inspiration is less clear now than it was then, due not least to Robertson's success making Christian conservatism a force in mainstream national politics. Many scholars who have written on Christian conservatism say the 75-year-old evangelist is well past his peak of influence.

A chart in Saturday's editions incorrectly listed the availability of some sky boxes for a proposed NFL expansion team in Baltimore. In addition to others indicated as sold out, those priced at $45,000 and $50,000 also have been leased.* The Sun regrets the error.Organizers of Baltimore's NFL bid are considering some new approaches as the two-month drive to sell premium seats enters its second half."The second phase is going to be tougher. The first 30 boxes and thousand club seats sailed out of here," said Matt DeVito, an organizer of the city's bid and chairman of the Rouse Co., a Columbia-based real estate developer.

The Cecil-Harford 700 Club Tournament -- the Strikeline Pro Shop Open -- at Forest Hill Lanes last month came down to the last ball."If you wanted excitement in your matches, the final game was as exciting as you can get," said Chuck Dippenworth, club tournament director. "It came down not only to the final frame, but to the last ball of the match."Bruce Hollen and Greg Maggard have been bowling for more than a few years, and the fact that they were bowling in this tournament is evidence of their skills on the lanes.

Washington.--I was delighted to see Denzel Washington cast in the new hit movie ''Philadelphia'' to play the gay-hating, AIDS-fearing lawyer who becomes an unlikely advocate for a gay lawyer who has AIDS.I hope Mr. Washington's star appeal will help draw other Africa-descended Americans into seeing this gripping, thought-provoking movie and talk about its main themes: people and prejudice.As an African-American old enough to remember having to ride in the back of the bus, drink from water fountains marked ''colored'' and avoid amusement parks that barred ''Negro children,'' I sympathize with every human who is discriminated against for circumstances over which he has no control.

COLORA - Marcia Thompson Eldreth sees in the United States a Christian nation, inspired by Scripture and dedicated to propositions conveyed in biblical prophesy. She asks: Why not a U.S. national Christian flag? "Our nation was based on Judeo-Christian principles," Eldreth said. "Blessed is the country whose God is Lord." She was sitting in her Cecil County kitchen here the other day, sharing the story of how she came to design and arrange for manufacturing and selling a national Christian flag that since last year has gained national attention on The 700 Club, a religious news magazine television show hosted by, among others, the Rev. Pat Robertson.

ATLANTA -- The exclusive club of NCAA Division I coaches who have won 700 or more games yesterday gained its 11th member.Almost 38 years after he won his first game as a college coach, Georgia State's Lefty Driesell secured career victory No. 700 at the Sports Arena as his Panthers defeated North Florida, 84-74, before a crowd of 1,108.It was Driesell's third try at win No. 700, losing to Florida International in the final game of last season and Georgetown in the season opener Wednesday.

The Cecil-Harford 700 Club presented its final tournament of the season at Forest Hill Lanes on Sunday, April 9. The 2nd Chance Tournament consisted of five qualifying games and a stepladder final.Steve Tarbert of Bel Air came close to winning his second 700 Club Tournament title in two months but ran into a red-hot Steve Finley of Havre de Grace.Tarbert had teamed with Michele Bucey to claim the title in the February Mixed Doubles event at Bel Air Bowl. In the singles at Forest Hill he qualified first after the five qualifying games; he averaged 233 for the five games.

Barbie Bryant has been bowling tenpins for "about four or five years."The Ellicott City native now lives in Catonsville and bowls two nights a week -- Sunday's Colts and Fillies and the Wednesday Social Security league at Brunswick Normandy.For Bryant the league bowling is a way to escape the pressure of her work; she's a nurse at Johns Hopkins Hospital in the intensive care unit.That doesn't mean that she doesn't take her bowling seriously, she does. You can't carry an average in the 190s without concentration and dedication.

Roger Barnes of Edgewood won't be 21 until June, but he's already posted tenpin scores that bowlers double his agehaven't attained.The Edgewood High School graduate began his tenpin career when he was 3."If I could find someone to sponsor me I'd be on tour in a minute," Barnes said. "I think I'm ready."He's averaging 206 in the Sunday Gutterbusters, 208 in the Thursday Major Men's at Fair Lanes Edgewood and 209 at Brunswick Crown lanes in Middle River in the Friday Industrial league.He's shot two 800 sets and recently added a seventh perfect game to his string of 300s.

Washington.--I was delighted to see Denzel Washington cast in the new hit movie ''Philadelphia'' to play the gay-hating, AIDS-fearing lawyer who becomes an unlikely advocate for a gay lawyer who has AIDS.I hope Mr. Washington's star appeal will help draw other Africa-descended Americans into seeing this gripping, thought-provoking movie and talk about its main themes: people and prejudice.As an African-American old enough to remember having to ride in the back of the bus, drink from water fountains marked ''colored'' and avoid amusement parks that barred ''Negro children,'' I sympathize with every human who is discriminated against for circumstances over which he has no control.

Joe Riddle of Reisterstown finally attained one of his bowling dreams after 12 years of tenpins."Last year I bowled at Kings Point, but this year I'm bowling in just the one league [the Tuesday Men's at Hampstead lanes]," he said. "I just started using my old Blue Phantom bowling ball again, and maybe those two things have made a difference."Owner of a career-high 699 series and averaging 190 at Kings Point last season, Riddle always had wanted to get past that 700-series barrier.L On Nov. 9, he fired games of 220, 268 and 225 for a 713 set.That's good for a plaque from Hampstead lanes and a membership in the 700 club.

WASHINGTON -- Art Monk keeps moving up the National Football League receiving ladder.The veteran Washington Redskins' wide receiver became the third player to catch 700 passes in a career and stretched his consecutive-game string to 110 -- the fifth-longest in NFL history -- in the team's 31-17 victory over the New Orleans Saints yesterday.Monk, who barely kept his streak alive with one catch against the Philadelphia Eagles Monday night, made four receptions for 43 yards and one touchdown.

The Cecil-Harford 700 Club Tournament -- the Strikeline Pro Shop Open -- at Forest Hill Lanes last month came down to the last ball."If you wanted excitement in your matches, the final game was as exciting as you can get," said Chuck Dippenworth, club tournament director. "It came down not only to the final frame, but to the last ball of the match."Bruce Hollen and Greg Maggard have been bowling for more than a few years, and the fact that they were bowling in this tournament is evidence of their skills on the lanes.

Joe Riddle of Reisterstown finally attained one of his bowling dreams after 12 years of tenpins."Last year I bowled at Kings Point, but this year I'm bowling in just the one league [the Tuesday Men's at Hampstead lanes]," he said. "I just started using my old Blue Phantom bowling ball again, and maybe those two things have made a difference."Owner of a career-high 699 series and averaging 190 at Kings Point last season, Riddle always had wanted to get past that 700-series barrier.L On Nov. 9, he fired games of 220, 268 and 225 for a 713 set.That's good for a plaque from Hampstead lanes and a membership in the 700 club.